Car-coupling



(No Model.)

J. MGGREE.

GAR 001181.11111.

110.244,188. Patented July 12,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT Ormea! JAMES MGCREE, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN.

CAR-COUPLING.

` SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,138, dated July 12, 1881.

Application filed April s, lsel. (No model.)4

Toall'rwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES MCGREE, of Lansing, Inghaln county, Michigan, have illvented an Improvement in Gar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

rlhe nature of this invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction and operation of couplings for railway-cars; and the invention consists, first, in the peculiar construction and manner of hanging the draw-bar, whereby a vertical radial movement ofthe same is provided for; second, in the peculiar construction of the coupling device; and, third, in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combinations of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter set forth.

Figure l isv a vertical longitudinal section through the center of my improved draw-bar and coupling with the link retracted within `the draw-head. Fig. 2 is similar view, showing manner of double coupling. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevatioll. Figs. 4 and 5 are details of construction.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specitication, AA represent the two sections ofmy improved draw-bar, secured together by plates B, there being a space, a, leftbetween the adjacent ends of thebar. Within this recess a, I secure the buft'enspring (l,

l the two ends of the spring resting within the cup-shaped bearings D. Upon the back faces of these bearings D are secured the followerbars E, which project at each end beyond the periphery of the bearings D. The ends of these followers rest between the stop-plates F, which are secured to the side timbers, G, beneath the car. By this manner of constructin g and hanging the draw-bar a vertical movement of the draw-bar is provided for, as it is evident that the head of the draw-bar may be raised or depressed so as to couple cars of different height, the follower-bars moving radiallyT between the stop-plates relative to the elevation or depression of the draw-head, while, when not coupled with another car, the draw-bar will always remain in a horizontal position, it being counterbalanced for that purpose. When two of these draw-bars come together the entire bar moves rearward, while the rear follower-bar, finding resistance against the rear stop-plate, prevents such a lnovement of the spring, which must therefore necessarilyr be compressed, this action of the spring being substantially the same as in the ordinary construction, where it is placed ill the rear of the entire bar.

In the portion A of the draw-bar which is recessed for that purpose I pivotally secure a stop-plate or dog, I.

J is the coupling-link, which is illserted in the draw-bar, the recess being suflciently long to receive it, so that the link may entirely rest within the draw-bar, as shown in Fig. 1. A dead-bolt, K, passing down through the drawbar and link prevents the latter from being entirely withdrawn, and when drawn out the dog I falls behind theinner end of the link, to prevent it from being pushed back when in the act of coupling, a hand-hole, b, being made in the side of the draw-bar, through which the dog may be raised when :it is desired to place the link entirely in, the outer end of the link resting within a recess, c, in the lower portion of the draw bar or head to prevent the lillk from accidentally sliding out, as is sllown in Fig. l.

L is the coupling-pin, which is hooked or bent back uponitself, as shown, which passes through the pin-hole of the head, and also through the link, having akey,e, ill the end of 8o its longer end, to prevent its being entirely re moved. When thepnis set so as to couple with a link inserted in the draw-head the pin is raised so that its shorter arm will rest upon the shelf d in the upper portion of the draw-head, the longer arm ofthe pin being then opposite the mouth, and as the entering link strikes against it, it necessarily dislodges the shorter arm from its seat, and by gravity' it falls and engages with the link.

If desired, as in collpling-cars which are heavily loaded, the links of both draw-heads may be extended so that they will both couple, Fig. 2, the one link passing above the other, thereby forming a double coupling, dispensing with the use of safety-chains.

The pin-hole through which the coupling-pin passes is enlarged at its top, as shown, in order that the pin may have a lateral movement therein and fall back when struck by an entering link.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. As a means for pivotally supporting a draW- bar and providing for the necessary spring thereof, the recess a and bearings D, in combination with the plates F, attached to the proper timbers under the car, substantially as specied.

2. A draw-bar provided with projections E at its sides, in combination with the side plates, F, the lower ends of each of said plates formin g the center of the arc comprising the surface of the plate opposite to it, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. AdraW-bar provided with adog, I, pivoted in a recess back of the coupling-pin, in combination With the stationary bolt K and the link J, substantially as and for the purpose speciied.

4. In a draw-bar, the plates B B, bolted at each end to the sections A A, and forming a, recess, a, between said sections, in combination with the bearings D and spring O fitting in said recess, substantially as and for the purpose speciied.

5. In a draw-bar constructed substantially as described, and provided with the internallypivoted dog I, the hand-hole b, for the purpose specified.

JAMES MCCREE.

Witnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, E. ScUL'LY. 

